Skills and competencies for the next generation Information Professional

摘要

Looking to the future of the information profession, many sources have been predicting the demise of the librarian for some time. While it is clear that some things have changed and are continuing to change, are these predictions too pessimistic? What future can information professionals look forward to? Review of the emerging trends in job roles for information professionals, from the perspective of one of the largest UK recruitment firms specializing in this field, considering what types of jobs are likely to become common and what skills and competencies prospective applicants will need to compete successfully for the available jobs. The likelihood of the continuation of demand for hard-copy collections of books and journals is discussed and the impact of this on demand for traditional library management skills is considered. The possibility of convergence between (electronic) records management, information management and knowledge management disciplines, with their merger, at least technologically, into enterprise content management system is discussed, and a hypothetical organization chart for the information department of the future is posited. What actions information professionals should take to ensure they are prepared for the future and are equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to take full advantage of the opportunities that will exist for the next generation are also considered.